Geographers Salary
The median pay for a geographers in Missouri is $102,040/year ($49.06/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $76K at the entry level to $126K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 88.97), which stretches that salary to about $114,690 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,097/month, or 17% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. This is an aggregate across all of Missouri. BLS does not publish metro-level data for this occupation in this state.
So what does $102K get you in Missouri?
About geographers
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What this looks like in Missouri
Geographers pay in Missouri tracks closely to the national median, $102K locally vs. $102K nationwide, a 0% difference. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,097/month, 17.3% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 88.97 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 11% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Missouri
Entry-level geographers (10th percentile) start around $76K. Mid-career wages sit at $102K. Top earners bring in $126K or more, a $51K spread from bottom to top.
Compare to other states
Track geographers salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Missouri numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a geographer afford a 2BR apartment alone in Missouri?
Yes — at the median salary of $102K, rent takes 17.3% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,097/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for geographers in Missouri?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new geographers typically earn — is $76K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $4,548/month. At HUD’s $1,097/month FMR, rent would take 24% of that take-home — manageable on an entry-level income.
Is geographer a high-paying job in Missouri?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $102K locally vs. $102K nationally, a 0% difference.
How does Missouri compare to the national average for geographers?
Missouri pays $102K median vs. the U.S. average of $102K — that’s +0%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 88.97), the purchasing-power equivalent is $115K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do geographers make in Missouri?
The median is $102,040 a year, that works out to about $49 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $75,800, and experienced geographers can clear $126,440. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $102K enough to live in Missouri?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $6,341/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,097/month, which eats 17.3% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a geographers salary go in Missouri?
Missouri has a Regional Price Parity of 88.97 (100 is the national average). That's below average, your money stretches further here than the raw salary number suggests. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median geographers salary is worth about $114,690 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do geographers get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.